Tray for the germination of seeds



Jan. 3o, 1940. W,.A,| Ew.s ETAL 2,188,880

TRAY FOR THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS I Filed Sept. 1'7, 1937 'Patented Jae. so, l1940l GERMINA'rIoNf o-F SEEDS 1 f Y K 'f- William'.` Albert Stockton-onf-Tees,fand

i Vivian deC'ourcyDashwod, London, England, `Aa'ssignors to Intensive .CultivationsA C6nipjany,` y

London,` Englandja British company f Appiicatin september 17, 1937. serial No. 12,645,292

. lInUGreat Britain September 21,11936;

This invention .relates to trays `for the germination of seeds or Agrain j and more .particularly .to the lconstruction of -such trays and to a method of distributing liquid gto-a predetermined amount over al plurality-of superimposed germination trays. ,l 1'" Y, One object of this invention-isftoiprovidea vcon- Istruction ofgermination trayy which produces lan even lseed bed and which additionally allows even distribution-@liquid such aswater, or nutrient solutionjfor `seed germinationover the tray bed.

Another object of theinventionis to provide a construction vof germination tray` which retainslaa predetermined quantity of liquid thereon, anddev.- liversrsurplus liquid to a-lowerlever.

A further object ,of theinventionistoprovide an. .improved method of l distributing liquid -.overa series of superimposed germination trays.,

In order that thenature` ofl the presentv invention may beA .better understood f. several 1embodiments shown by way otexamplein the-draw,-

ing formingpartof ,the specication willybedej-` scribedhereinafter fromv Whichfurther objects' Referringto Fig. l, a seed germination tray I0 v comprises an upstanding` rim Il .anged over as at I2 to provide a supporting device for the tray and a base I3. The base I3 `of the tray is formed with a series of corrugations I4 extending from side to side of the tray, and a further series iof corrugations I5 which extend from front to back of the tray. As Will be clear from Fig 1 ythese corrugatons cross one another and atv the parts4 indicated at 35 in Fig. 1 which are intermediate the points ofV intersection of the corrugations the level of the ridge of the corrugations is lowered so that in effect a series of spaced humps or projections I5 is provided, eachv projection being surounded by troughs or concavitiesIl.-

Eachof these concavities communicates with adjacent concavities over the lower ridge parts 35 to form a series of interconnected concavities.

vAt or adjacent the peak of'some or all of the projections `I6 `there are formed orifices I8 preferably evenly distributed over vthe surfaceof the 55 base 13.. These orieces disposedata terrain dis- .substantially simultaneous overflow Lthrough lall `the'oriees-to .provide, an.v even distribution of v `solution .to ay v'series of superimposed trays as it will dripthrough on tothe next 'lower tray in .A series of corrugations 24'an`d 25 in the'manner described with reference to Fig. 1 form. a series tance Vabove the` base I3. provide overfloworices -for the trayso vthat liquidmay be retained by 'the tray up toitlie height of the said orifices.

Preferablytheorices I8 are all .disposedl at the same height :abovethe base I3 `so as to. 'provide 5 liquid on .to atray possibly. 'disposed below the same. If desired the orifices maybe formed with serrated vedges "so that the solution overowing may fallzinthe form of a-plurality of drops.

The arrangement of a plurality of such trays vin a cabinet for seed germination is. indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3. Each-tray is supported by its-flange I2 on supporting ribs I9 so u Athat the trays mayjbeslid into and outof position. f Anysuitablevnumber of trays maybe superimposed one above'fthe;v other.. I.

\ vWhen itis desired `tosupply waterbrnu'trient shown in Eig 34 water is supplied ltoftheupper- 20 most tray in an amount suicientto` provide the total amount necessary for allthetrays. When thezdepth of thexliquid ldelivered to.. the .uppermosttrayreaches `the overflow .orifices therein a `substantially evenly .distributed manner and .when the liquid ony the next'lower tray reaches `theheigm; ofsthe overflow annees therein'it win "againfoverowandsoon. yAn amountof liquid 'determined by the' height of fthe 'overiiow orifices is thus retained in each trayfso 'that by the method of the invention itc'is only necessary tov turn on a single supply cock (not illustrated) controlling the flow 4of liquid through a delivery `m5 pipe 30 `(Fig. 3) which may for example be disposedcentrally of the uppermost tray. The sup' y ply of liquid to all the trays then takes place automatically. c v

It may be preferred to useA a 4slightly modified o `form of traymerely as a liquid ldistributing tray in the uppermost part of the cabinet. `Such a tray is shown in Figs. 2 and.3. The uppermost tray 20 is provided with an upstandingrim 2| preferably of vless heightthan the' rim II and 45 ywith `an outward lflange 22. In the same Way as in the case. of the trayl Illtheliquidv distributing trayv is provided with two oppositely directed of humps 26 separated by concavities or hollows yZI'intercommunicating over lower ridge parts 29.

certain of the hollows 21 orifices Ztmay be provided S0 `that the liqudvdelivery to the tray g provision of the humps or projections minimizesAll the risk of unequal distribution of liquid in the case where the tray may Vbescnnewhat vinclined.

to the horizontal. Y

It is preferred to groove or l-cofrrugatethe tray in at least two directions sojasto provide interconnection of all the concavities thus providing an even iiow of nutrient solution over the surface'of the tray. By theconstruction of tray shown in Fig.` 1 vready communication between all the concavities can be obtained at av level below that of the orifices i8. While 4the ridges or corrugations have been shown as at right angles to one another it is to be understood that -they may. extendlin any suitable direction and at any suitable angle to one another.

lIt will be understood'the trays constructed `in accordance withl the invention provide an even seed bed together with evendistribution of liquid for the vgermination of theseeds. Further, they provide devices for obtaining a store of' a mixture 'of nutrient solution of predetermined quantity which can be. absorbed bythe seeds and Ialso an even supply of liquid from one tray to the'n'ext lower itray. 1

What wefclaim is:l 'I y f l. In `a soilless seedv germination cabinet,.` a liquid retaining. and distributing tray comprising a bed provided with a plurality of .overflow orifices disposed at .'a.- predetermined height above an'd"distribute'd throughout vsaid bed and spaced concavities,arrangedaround said orifices with adjacent: concavities intercommunicating 4'one with` the other."

2. In. a soillessfseed germination cabinet, a`

`liquid retaining anddistributing tray comprising a base,A a plurality of spaced projections formed inr rality of .,concavities` in said Abase surrounding.

,eachjof said projections` andY means toy provide intercommunication between said concavities at' a level belowsaid perforations.,

3. In a soilless seed germination cabinet, ya liquid retaining andl distributing tray comprising `a base, a plurality of spaced projections formed` eachl of said projections, the lconcavities between said spaced projections .'intercommunicatingv throughout the base of said tray in order to prol 10 vide an even distribution of liquid.

In a soillessvseed .germination Acabinet,vthe combination of "a liquid-retaining and distributl vingjtnray comprising vva` base provided with a pluralityoi overilow'orices disposed.` ata predeter- V'rninedheight above and 'distributed throughout.

' said' base and with spaced `Concavities arranged aroundsaid orifices, adjacent concavities interbase, a plurality of intercommunicating concavi ties in`r said base and projections in said bas j intermediate said concavities,l at least some of said concavities being provided with oriii'cesl 5;'In a soilless seed germination cabinet, thek combination of' a liquid-retaining and "distributing tray comprising a'base'provided with a plurality of overow vorifices disposed. atv a predeterf mined height above and distributed throughout said base and with spaced concavitiesarranged aroundsaid orifices, adjacent concavities intercommunicating one with the other, andan upperrnost liquid-distributing tray comprising a base, a' plurality of intercommuni'cating 'concavii ties in said base and projections in'said base'in-k termediate saidfconcavities, at least some of saidy concavities being provided with orces, said yori,-

ery of said base than at its center.

6.' In a soilless seed germination cabinet, a liquid-fretaining and distributing tray comprising Aa base,' an`upstanding peripheral rimaroundsaid base; spaced co'ncavitiesy distributed over the area the interspaces between concavities, at least some of lsaid projections having overflow oriiicesat' their upper ends,`. and means to provide inter-- communication between adjacent concavities at. a level below said loverflow orifices.

v WILLrsM ALBERT LEWIS. j kvIvIAN DE coURov DAsrrvvoon.

ices being in greater number nearerthe periph-` ,i

fof said base, a plurality of projections locatedin 

